Lecture 1 Flashcards
Define Cartography.
Field of study exploring map construction
Define Physical Geography.
The study of rocks and minerals, landforms, soils, animals, plants, water, atmosphere and climate relative to a specific spatial location
Define Human Geography.
The study of population, settlements, economic activity, transportation, recreational activities, religion, politics, social tradition, migration agriculture and urban systems relative to a spacial point.
Define Geography.
The study of natural and human constructed phenomena relative to a spacial dimension.
Define Geomorphology.
Study of various landforms on earths surface.
Define Pedology.
Study of soil.
Define Biogeography.
The science that investigates the spacial relationships of plants and animals.
Define Hydrology.
Study of water in all forms.
Define Meteorology.
Study of the circulation of the atmosphere over short time spans.
Define Climatology.
Study of the effects of weather on life and examines the circulation of the atmosphere over larger time spans.
What is a system?
A set of interrelated components working together.
What are three properties of a system?
Define them.
Elements: the parts that make up a system
Attributes: characteristics of elements that may be perceived and measured
Relationships: the associations between elements
Photosynthesis is an example of a __________ system.
Environmental
Define Equilibrium.
The average condition of a system measured through one of its elements.
Define Process.
Actions or mechanisms that operate on or between components of a system.
Define Feedback.
A systems response to changing system input or output.
What are the two types of feedback?
Positive and negative.
Define Positive Feedback.
This moves a system away from balance/equilibrium. This is not good.
Define Negative Feedback.
This brings a system back to equilibrium. This is good.
What is Toblers first law of geography?
Nearer things are more likely to be closely related.
What does the term Plate Tectonics refer to?
Continents are on tectonic plates that are constantly shifting. This causes movement of the continents and where two plates come together mountains can be formed, or earthquakes occur.
What happens to mountain ranges over time due to the cycle of erosion?
The mountains are weathered down, and change from youthful, high energy mountains with steep slopes and quick sediment movement to old, or mature, mountain ranges with low potential, slow sediment movement and flat slopes.
What is the life cycle of a mountain range?
Youthful—> Early Mature—> Late Mature—> Mature
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred.
